Babies, especially during the first few months of life, grow rapidly. Therefore, good nutrition is very important period feeding is one of your baby’s most pleasant experiences. At feeding time, the baby receives nourishment from food and a feeling of security. The choice of whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed is up to you. While not identical to breast milk most formulas have approximately as nutritious and digestible as human milk. Whole cow’s milk is not recommended for babies under one year old.
Both you and the baby should be comfortable during the feeding time period both the mother and father should try to participate in this activity. A feeding schedule usually is most satisfactory if it is flexible, allowing the baby to eat when hungry.
| Age | Introduction of New Foods | Reasons for Introduction |
| 0-2 months | Breast Milk or Formula | Meets the infant’s nutritional needs for the first 4-6 months. |
| 4-6 months | 1. Iron-fortified cereal-rice, oats, and barley. 2. Fruit juices, but no orange juice. 3. Fruits and vegetables. | Provides a dietary source of iron at the age when body stores from birth are depleted. |
| 6-8 months | Cottage cheese, plain yogurt, strained meats, and meat alternatives (such as purees of beans and lentils) & dried beans | Provides additional proteins, vitamins, and iron for rapid growth. Encourages chewing when teeth erupt. |
| 8-10 months | Chewy finger foods, fish, poultry, and soft-cooked vegetables. | Add variety and additional protein, minerals, and vitamins. |
| 9-12 months | Variety of regular table foods. | Infant could feed themselves. Encourages the development of hand-to-mouth coordination |
| 12 months | Whole eggs, orange juice, and cow’s milk (up to 16 ounces a day). | Infant can drink from a cup. The infant should be weaned from the bottle. |